It’s been a week since I had finally gotten home from the wedding and Christmas with my family and things were slowly getting better I guess you could say. Talia and Maggie were absolutely pissed that Liam had left me like that after everything we had prepped for but I lied to them and told them I was okay with it and we got some closure about it. Honestly I still had to pay Liam for the time he was with me but I didn’t know how to get ahold of him since when I called the phone number I had, it was disconnected. I had many ideas about just going and dropping it off at his apartment but I was nervous of facing him. He really had truly hurt me and I just didn’t have the energy nor the time to put together the pieces of my now even more shattered heart. Today I had the night off and I was currently staring at the envelope that held all of the money that I owed Liam. I decided to pay him in full because I didn’t feel like being a jerk and taking away money he really did earn by learning everything about me. I don’t know what made me decide to get out of my apartment, but I grabbed the envelope and made my way to my car. I was just going to slide the money under the doorway and just be on my way. That way I didn’t have to see or deal with Liam face to face. I was talking myself up when I pulled up to the apartment complex and closed my eyes. I could do this. It was just like Louis told me before I left Georgia.

“You just go in with your head held high and show him that you don’t need him, he needs you.”

I nodded my head in agreement with imaginary Louis and got out of my car and made my way up the four flights of stairs to Liam’s apartment. I don’t know how long I stood outside of his door trying to make myself slide the money under the door when I heard laughing and footsteps coming up the stairs. One laughing voice sounded like Liam’s and I figured I was going to be caught so I tried to pretend that I had just knocked on his door. I was “patiently” waiting for him to open when the people on the stairs emerged and I was shocked to see Liam and his family all laughing and getting along. Karen was the first one to notice me and smiled widely when she noticed.

“Melanie! What a pleasure it is to see you,” she said grinning and all conversation stopped and I gave Karen and small smile.

“It’s great to see you too Mrs. Payne,” I said as she hugged me and then Geoff hugged me along with Nicola and Ruth.

“What brings you around here love?” Geoff asked.

“Well I forgot to give this to Liam the last time we saw each other so I was just going to drop it off,” I said handing the envelope to Liam, “It’s all in there that you needed from earlier. If you have any questions you know how to get ahold of me.”

I then smiled at the rest of his family.

“Well I don’t want to intrude on the rest of your night so I’m going to head back to my apartment and get dinner ready for Ace,” I said, “It was really nice seeing you all again.”

“You too love,” Karen said, “And make sure Liam brings you out to our house for dinner soon. We’d love to catch up.”

“I will,” I said feeling horrible about lying to Karen but I knew that probably wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

I then hugged everyone and when I got to Liam I gave him a sad smile and hugged him quickly. I then rushed off back to my car. Seeing Liam after what happened was extremely harder than I thought it was going to be. I could feel the tears stinging my eyes as I got into my car. When I got in my car I did the first thing I could think of. I called one person who knows me better than I know myself and told them to meet me at my apartment and bring lots of wine and ice cream since they were in town.

---

It had been about an hour since Louis came over with wine and ice cream and I was crying to him about how dumb and stupid I was.

“God I was so stupid Louis,” I sighed shaking my head, “I was thinking that maybe just maybe that Liam felt the same way about me. I can’t believe I was so naïve about it.”

“Hey,” Louis said as I took another bite from my Chunky Monkey Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, “You are not stupid and you are not dumb. Now I’m going to tell you something that I can’t believe I’m saying but you have to believe me okay.”

“Okay,” I said.

“Liam does like you the way you like him,” Louis said, “All of Greg’s single friends and I were making comments about how we loved to get you in bed. They all thought you were very attractive and wanted to make you mine and every comment that came out I knew bothered Liam. Want to know how I know that? Because Liam was clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles were turning white and that’s when I knew that he truly cared about you. Because I did the exact same thing when someone made a comment like when I was in hearing distance.”

“You’re lying,” I said shaking my head no.

“Well I then noticed it the first time I saw you two on the plane Mel,” he said, “Most hired dates don’t really hang out with family members or family friends alone because they are worried they’re going to mess up the story. Liam had no problem fending for himself when you were sleeping on the plane. The minute he knew you were okay and sleeping peacefully, he came over to Lilly, Greg, Niall, Harry, and I and was joining in on the conversation and every so often I would catch him glancing back and smiling lightly when he saw you. Melanie he loves you I just know.”

I was about to tell Louis to just stop when my cell phone started ringing. I didn’t recognize the number but I decided to answer it anyway because I really didn’t want to listen to Louis anymore.

“Hello,” I replied.

“Mel,” I heard Liam’s voice relax a little bit.

“What do you want Liam?” I asked trying not to sound like I had been crying.

“Meet me downstairs outside of your flat building,” he said, “I need to talk to you.”

“Liam. . .” I started but Liam cut me off.

“Please Mel,” he said, “I owe you a big explanation as to why I was an arse and ran off. I want to give it to you and hopefully turn your night into a better one.”

“What makes you think my night isn’t all that great?” I asked looking at Louis who was looking everywhere but me and I narrowed my eyes at him.

“I just have a feeling okay,” he said, “Because my weeks haven’t all that great either.”
I sighed running a hand through my hair and closed my eyes and felt fresh tears.

“Fine,” I said, “But you only get an hour of my time and that’s it.”

“I can do it in an hour,” Liam said, “I’ll wait outside here for you.”

“Okay,” I said and then hung up abruptly and looked at Louis who was giving me a sheepish grin.

“If you and I can’t date then I would rather have Liam a part of your family then some other wanker you meet off the street,” Louis stated to my famous ‘I hate you’ look.

“I’m going to make sure that I kill you when I get back,” I said standing up and walking into the bathroom to fix my makeup, “I really am Lou.”

“Or you’ll come back and thank me a thousand times,” Louis grinned and I rolled my eyes.

I sighed to myself and fixed my makeup and looked at Louis.

“Go get him tiger,” Louis said and I shook my head.

“I can’t get him if he was never mine in the first place Lou,” I said grabbing my purse, “Make sure you and Ace don’t make too much of a mess and if you leave before I get back, lock the door up and put Ace in his cage for me.”

“Will do boss lady,” Louis said and I rolled my eyes and headed down to see the one man you had broken my heart worse than Louis did.

Notes

Guess what everybody! I have internet now! Woo woo! Here's my update that I promised you all. Let me know what you all think!!